Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

The blue waves parted, and the waterway stretched out.

More than ten streaks of light, carrying the waves and drawing upon the power of the endless water veins of the East Sea, moved at a speed far exceeding that of flying through the clouds.

"arrive."

Qin Wan withdrew his hand seal, and everyone was suspended in mid-air. Before them was the territory of Qishan. In the distance, the banners of the Shang army camp fluttered, and the camp stretched for more than ten miles.

Wen Zhong let out a long sigh of relief: "Fellow Daoists, please."

As the group descended from the clouds, scouts quickly reported to the central army. The camp gates were wide open, and Ji Li and Yu Qing led dozens of generals out to greet them, their armor clanging and their expressions solemn.

"Disciples respectfully welcome Master!" Ji Li and Yu Qing were the first to bow and pay their respects.

Wen Zhong waved his hand: "No need for formalities. These ten are the Ten Heavenly Kings of Jin'ao Island, all of whom are highly skilled members of the Jie Sect. They have come here to lend their assistance."

Jili and the others hurriedly paid their respects to the Ten Heavenly Lords.

Deng Zhong, Xin Huan, Zhang Jie, and Tao Rong stood behind them, their gazes sweeping over the Ten Heavenly Lords. Seeing that although these ten people had different appearances, each of them exuded a calm and collected aura, they all felt a chill in their hearts.

The Jie Sect is known as the Sect of Ten Thousand Immortals, and its reputation is indeed well-deserved.

"Fellow Daoists, you have come a long way and must be tired. Please come into the tent and have a chat." Wen Zhong stepped aside to let them in.

As the group passed through layers of camps, the soldiers of the Shang army along the way saw that Wen Zhong had brought back so many cultivators, and they all knew that strong reinforcements had arrived, which boosted their morale.

Inside the central command tent, after everyone had taken their seats, servants served tea. The aroma of tea filled the air, but it could not dispel the somber atmosphere in the tent.

Qin Wan took a sip of tea and spoke first, his voice steady: "Fellow Daoist, how far is Xiqi City from here?"

Zhang Kui put down his teacup and replied, "It's about seventy li from here."

He rose and walked to the map hanging in the tent, tapping it lightly with his fingertip. "Qishan is here, and Xiqi City is to the southwest. After the battle between the two armies a few days ago, our army retreated here. Relying on the terrain of Qishan and backed by a tributary of the Yellow River, we can advance to attack or retreat to defend."

Upon hearing this, the ten Heavenly Kings all nodded slightly.

"Seventy li..." Dong Quan, who was in charge of the "Wind Howling Formation," stroked his beard and pondered. "If we're setting up a formation, this distance is just right. The formation's power can cover the front line without getting too close to the city and being countered by the enemy."

Wen Zhong looked at the Jie Sect members and asked, "Fellow Daoists, you have just arrived. Do you need to rest or make some preparations? Please feel free to ask for the materials and manpower needed for setting up the formation."

Before Qin Wan could answer, Zhao Jiang, who was in charge of the "Earthly Fiery Formation," raised his hand to indicate, "No need, Fellow Daoist Wen." His voice boomed, and his eyes blazed with fighting spirit. "We came here precisely to compete with the Chan Sect. Now that we're here, we should finish this quickly and resolve this matter as soon as possible!"

"Exactly!" Bai Li replied. "Why should we cultivators rest like ordinary armies? We have already prepared all the materials for the formation; we are just waiting to choose a location to set it up."

"What Senior Brother Zhang said is absolutely right."

"It's long overdue to let the Chan Sect witness the methods of my Jie Sect!"

The other heavenly rulers echoed their sentiments, and the atmosphere in the tent suddenly became intense.

Zhang Kui observed all of this and pondered, "Most of the disciples of the Jie Sect are straightforward and honest. Although these ten Heavenly Kings are eager to fight, they are a little impatient."

He then used magic to transmit his voice to Wen Zhong, saying in a low voice, "Grand Tutor, I think that the matter of the confrontation should be addressed sooner rather than later."

Wen Zhong glanced sideways: "Oh? Fellow Daoist, please elaborate."

"As the art of war says, 'Speed ​​is of the essence in war.' Now that Fellow Daoists Ten Heavenly Lords have arrived, if we delay setting up our formation, the news may leak out, giving Xiqi an opportunity to prepare," Zhang Kui replied, his gaze sweeping over the Ten Heavenly Lords.

Wen Zhong nodded inwardly; Zhang Kui's words were exactly what he wanted. He suddenly stood up and said loudly, "In that case, I will trouble you fellow Daoists to set up the formation immediately! Ji Li and Yu Qing, you two await the orders of the Ten Heavenly Lords. Deng Zhong, Xin Huan, Zhang Jie, and Tao Rong, organize the three armies, and follow me out of the camp to form the formation in one hour."

"Yes, sir!" the generals replied in unison.

"good!"

The Ten Heavenly Kings cheered and stood up.

Qin Wan said to Zhang Kui, "Fellow Daoist Zhang, would you mind coming with us?"

Zhang Kui cupped his hands in greeting: "That is indeed my wish."

From the air, the southern foothills of Qishan Mountain are a flat, open field, stretching for tens of miles from east to west and more than ten miles from north to south, backed by the main peak of Qishan Mountain, with a superior terrain.

After the Ten Heavenly Kings landed, they each used their own methods.

Qin Wanxuan took the center position, took out three banners, and unfurled them in the wind, their surfaces swirling with a chaotic color. He chanted incantations, planted the banners into the ground, and formed hand seals, drawing upon the earth's energy. Instantly, the air within a hundred feet of the banners stagnated, and faint rumbling sounds echoed from the void.

Bai Li, standing a hundred feet to Qin Wan's left, conjured nine crimson banners and planted them according to the nine palaces. He bit his fingertip and used his blood essence to draw talismans on each banner. As the talismans were completed, the nine banners moved without wind, their surfaces glowing with a scorching red light, and the surrounding vegetation instantly withered.

Yuan Jiao, on the right, took out eight Xuanbing pillars and drove them into the ground according to the Bagua (Eight Trigrams) directions. As the ice pillars entered the earth, a chilling aura spread, white frost condensed on the ground, and even the air seemed to freeze.

The other Heavenly Lords each chose their own positions: Dong Quan set up the "Wind Howling Formation" and planted seventy-two blue wind banners; Zhao Jiang set up the "Earth Fierce Formation" and buried forty-nine earth-yellow formation flags; there were also the "Golden Light Formation", "Blood Transformation Formation", "Red Water Formation", "Red Sand Formation", and "Death Formation", each according to its own mysteries.

Zhang Kui hovered in mid-air, using the Great Yin-Yang Penetrating True Eye to observe carefully.

The array of flames, golden light, and red sand, radiating intense yang energy, was decisive and ruthless.

The formations of ice, blood, and red water exude a chilling aura, making them unpredictable and difficult to defend against.

The Heavenly Annihilation Formation, positioned in the center, harmonizes and subtly exerts its power to control all other formations.

"What a magnificent Ten-Element Chain!" Zhang Kui thought to himself. "It combines Yin and Yang, incorporates the Five Elements, and the ten formations are interconnected, forming a unified whole. If one formation is attacked, the other nine will immediately respond, unleashing a relentless and ever-flowing offensive."

Soon after, the Ten Deadly Formations were set up.

On the southern slope of Qishan Mountain, ten array points each emitted a unique brilliance: chaotic gray, blazing red, icy white, raging blue, earthy yellow, dazzling gold, dark blood, surging red water, red sand filling the sky, and dark, menacing black mist. The ten kinds of light soared into the sky, yet intertwined with each other, forming a vast net covering an area of ​​ten miles.

A chilling killing intent filled the air. (Set this as your homepage to receive daily updates of works like "Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods.") Even the sky seemed to darken slightly.

Qin Wan flew back to Wen Zhong's side, sweat beading on his forehead, but his expression was excited: "The formation is complete! Fellow Daoist Wen, you may order the army to march out of the camp and form ranks."

Wen Zhong nodded, took out a command arrow, and threw it into the air. The arrow exploded, turning into a streak of fire.

In an instant, the drums of the Shang army camp resounded through the sky.

The camp gates swung open, and Deng Zhong and Xin Huan led 30,000 cavalrymen in a charge, their hooves thundering and dust billowing. Following them were 50,000 infantrymen under the command of Zhang Jie and Tao Rong, their armor gleaming and their spears like a forest. Finally came the central army, supervised by Ji Li and Yu Qing, with Wen Zhong's command flag flying high.

The army arrayed itself behind the Ten Deadly Formations, its banners obscuring the sun and its murderous aura soaring to the heavens.

Zhang Kui stood on his horse, a Bi'an, at the front of the formation, his left hand on the hilt of the Dragon Sparrow Blade, his right hand unconsciously stroking the Qiankun Bow at his waist.

"Pass on the order!"

"Marching towards Xiqi!" Wen Zhong's voice resounded throughout the army.

One hundred thousand Shang soldiers surged toward Xiqi City like a black torrent.

……

In the city of Xiqi, at the Prime Minister's residence.

Jiang Ziya was discussing military matters with Yang Jian, Nezha, Huang Tianhua, Jinzha, Muzha and other disciples of the Chan Sect, as well as Zhou army generals such as Huang Feihu and Nangong Shi.

"Wen Zhong has been defending Qishan for five days. His losses in food and supplies are not significant, and his strength remains intact." Jiang Ziya pointed to the sand table. "Scouts report that the Shang army is fortifying its camp in Qishan, seemingly intending to hold out for a long time. Our army should take advantage of their unstable foothold and send troops to wipe out the remaining enemy forces in Qishan as soon as possible."

Yang Jian pondered for a moment and said, "Uncle-Master, Wen Zhong is a highly skilled disciple of the Jie Sect and is experienced in warfare. He has retreated to Qishan, which is backed by the Yellow River and has a strategic location. A direct attack would likely result in heavy casualties. It would be better to divide our forces to cut off his supply lines and wait for his supplies to run out before he collapses."

Nezha replied, "Why bother with all that trouble! Give me three thousand soldiers, Uncle-Master, and I'll raze the Qishan camp to the ground."

As everyone was discussing this, they suddenly heard a deep rumble coming from outside the city, like ten thousand horses galloping or the earth shaking.

"What's that sound?" Huang Feihu suddenly stood up.

Before the words were finished, a scout scrambled into the mansion, his face filled with terror: "Reporting—Prime Minister! The Shang army...the entire Shang army has been mobilized and is marching towards Xiqi! They are less than fifty li from the city!"

"What?"

Jiang Ziya's expression changed. "Wen Zhong actually dares to launch a preemptive attack?"

Yang Jian's third eye gleamed with golden light. He strode out of the hall, looked up towards Qishan, and his expression gradually turned serious: "Uncle-Master, come quickly!"

Jiang Ziya and the others hurried after them. Climbing to the top of the Prime Minister's residence, they looked out and saw dust billowing in the northeast, as a black army surged forward like a tide. Even more alarming, ten beams of light, each a different color and exuding a fierce aura, shot into the sky ten miles in front of the Shang army. Even from dozens of miles away, they could feel the chilling pressure emanating from them.

"That is..." Jiang Ziya's pupils contracted.

Yang Jian opened his Heavenly Eye, his golden light sweeping across the area, and said in a deep voice, "Uncle-Master, there are ten large formations in front of the Shang army's formation, each arranged according to its position, with interconnected formations and a murderous aura soaring to the sky. Judging from their aura, they are definitely not ordinary formations; they should be a secret technique of the Jie Sect."

Nezha, riding his Wind-Fire Wheels, rose into the air, carefully observed the surroundings, and then landed, his expression unusually serious: "Those ten array nodes contain chaos, blazing flames, freezing ice, and raging winds... each one is extraordinary. Moreover, the auras of the ten arrays are interconnected, forming a unified whole, I'm afraid..."

Jiang Ziya's hand, stroking his beard, trembled slightly: "Afraid of what?"

Nezha said, word by word, "It is probably the famous 'Ten Deadly Formations' of the Jie Sect."

"The Ten Deadly Formations?!" Jinzha and Muzha exclaimed in unison.

Although Huang Tianhua was young, he had heard his master, the True Lord Qingxu, mention this formation. His expression changed as he said, "Uncle-Master, I have heard Master say that this Ten Deadly Formations contains wondrous methods and is infinitely variable. Even a Great Luo Golden Immortal entering the formation would be in danger of death if he did not know how to break it."

Jiang Ziya was greatly shocked and hurriedly went down from the high building to summon everyone back to the council hall.

The atmosphere in the hall was somber.

Jiang Ziya surveyed the crowd and slowly said, "If this is truly the Ten Deadly Formations, this battle is in grave danger. Although my master bestowed upon me the Central Earth-Yellow Banner, which can protect me, the method to break the formation..."

He looked at Yang Jian, "Yang Jian, can your Heavenly Eye see through the true nature of the formation?"

Yang Jian shook his head: "When I used my Heavenly Eye just now, the surface of the ten formations was bright, but the changes inside were profound and hidden, and could not be seen clearly. Moreover, the auras of the ten formations concealed each other and were interdependent. It was difficult to see the whole picture of a single formation, and the ten formations linked together were even more unfathomable."

Nezha said anxiously, "Uncle-Master, why don't I go and scout ahead first? I have the Wind and Fire Wheels, which allow me to move swiftly and escape even if there is danger."

"No!"

Jiang Ziya flatly refused, "Although your cultivation is not bad, the Ten Deadly Formations have a terrible reputation. How can you treat this as a game? If you enter the formation rashly without preparation, you may not return."

He pondered for a moment, then resolutely said, "The only course of action now is to keep the city gates tightly shut and hold out. I will immediately burn incense and pray to our master, requesting that the senior brothers of Jade Void Palace descend the mountain to break the formation!"

Huang Feihu frowned and said, "Prime Minister, if we insist on holding our ground, I fear it will damage the morale of our troops. Moreover, the Shang army is challenging us to battle, and we are avoiding engagement. What will the other lords think of this?"

Jiang Ziya sighed, "King Wu Cheng, it is not that I am afraid of battle. The Ten Deadly Formations are no small matter. If there is no way to break them, even a million-strong army will be sent to their deaths."

He looked into the distance, where the ten malevolent beams of light were becoming increasingly clear. "Order the entire army to close all four gates, strengthen the city's defenses, and no one is to leave the city to engage in battle without my command!"

Once the order was given, the city walls of Xiqi immediately sprang into action.

Outside Xiqi City, the Shang army had advanced to within twenty li of the city.

Wen Zhongling ordered the army to halt and form ranks behind the Ten Deadly Formations. He rode his black Qilin to the front of the formation and stood shoulder to shoulder with Zhang Kui and the Ten Heavenly Kings.

Qin Wan gazed at the faint golden light visible atop the city walls of Xiqi in the distance and sneered, "Xiqi is hiding in its shell. It seems they recognize the might of my Ten Deadly Formations."

Zhang Kui replied, "Xiqi has the Chan Sect as its backer, so they won't avoid war for long. They must be going to Yuxu Palace for help."

Wen Zhong nodded in agreement.

Before long, war drums sounded outside the city of Xiqi, and Deng Zhong led his troops into battle formation, their shouts shaking the heavens.

However, the gates of Xiqi were tightly closed. No matter how much they were insulted, arrows rained down from the city walls, but not a single soldier came out.